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experimental skill

  • 1 талант экспериментатора

    Универсальный русско-английский словарь > талант экспериментатора

  • 2 практик

    Практик-- He was a practical man who combined great experimental skill with both the ability and willingness to search out the physical basis of his observations.

    Русско-английский научно-технический словарь переводчика > практик

  • 3 Hunter, John

    SUBJECT AREA: Medical technology
    [br]
    b. 14 (registered 13) February 1728 East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, Scotland
    d. 16 October 1793 London, England
    [br]
    Scottish surgeon and anatomist, pioneer of experimental methods in medicine and surgery.
    [br]
    The younger brother of William Hunter (1718–83), who was of great distinction but perhaps of slightly less achievement in similar fields, he owed much of his early experience to his brother; William, after a period at Glasgow University, moved to St George's Hospital, London. In his later teens, John assisted a brother-in-law with cabinet-making. This appears to have contributed to the lifelong mechanical skill which he displayed as a dissector and surgeon. This skill was particularly obvious when, after following William to London in 1748, he held post at a number of London teaching hospitals before moving to St George's in 1756. A short sojourn at Oxford in 1755 appears to have been unfruitful.
    Despite his deepening involvement in the study of comparative anatomy, facilitated by the purchase of animals from the Tower menagerie and travelling show people, he accepted an appointment as a staff surgeon in the Army in 1760, participating in the expedition to Belle Isle and also serving in Portugal. He returned home with over 300 specimens in 1763 and, until his appointment as Surgeon to St George's in 1768, was heavily involved in the examination of this and other material, as well as in studies of foetal testicular descent, placental circulation, the nature of pus and lymphatic circulation. In 1772 he commenced lecturing on the theory and practice of surgery, and in 1776 he was appointed Surgeon-Extraordinary to George III.
    He is rightly regarded as the founder of scientific surgery, but his knowledge was derived almost entirely from his own experiments and observations. His contemporaries did not always accept or understand the concepts which led to such aphorisms as, "to perform an operation is to mutilate a patient we cannot cure", and his written comment to his pupil Jenner: "Why think. Why not trie the experiment". His desire to establish the aetiology of gonorrhoea led to him infecting himself, as a result of which he also contracted syphilis. His ensuing account of the characteristics of the disease remains a classic of medicine, although it is likely that the sequelae of the condition brought about his death at a relatively early age. From 1773 he suffered recurrent anginal attacks of such a character that his life "was in the hands of any rascal who chose to annoy and tease him". Indeed, it was following a contradiction at a board meeting at St George's that he died.
    By 1788, with the death of Percival Pott, he had become unquestionably the leading surgeon in Britain, if not Europe. Elected to the Royal Society in 1767, the extraordinary variety of his collections, investigations and publications, as well as works such as the "Treatise on the natural history of the human teeth" (1771–8), gives testimony to his original approach involving the fundamental and inescapable relation of structure and function in both normal and disease states. The massive growth of his collections led to his acquiring two houses in Golden Square to contain them. It was his desire that after his death his collection be purchased and preserved for the nation. It contained 13,600 specimens and had cost him £70,000. After considerable delay, Par-liament voted inadequate sums for this purpose and the collection was entrusted to the recently rechartered Royal College of Surgeons of England, in whose premises this remarkable monument to the omnivorous and eclectic activities of this outstanding figure in the evolution of medicine and surgery may still be seen. Sadly, some of the collection was lost to bombing during the Second World War. His surviving papers were also extensive, but it is probable that many were destroyed in the early nineteenth century.
    [br]
    Principal Honours and Distinctions
    FRS 1767. Copley Medal 1787.
    Bibliography
    1835–7, Works, ed. J.F.Palmer, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, London.
    MG

    Biographical history of technology > Hunter, John

  • 4 опыт

    1) General subject: attempt, background, ballast (ность), best practices (АД), essay, experience, experiment, experimental (чувственный), know-how, proven record, skill, sophistication, trial
    2) Biology: (жизненный) experience
    3) Medicine: test
    4) French: expertise
    5) Philosophy: (чувственный) experimental
    7) Chemistry: run
    8) Religion: adventure
    9) Linguistics: horizon of experience
    10) Cinema: mileage
    11) Forestry: sample
    12) Psychology: experience (жизненный), operation
    13) Abbreviation: exp (работы)
    14) Jargon: moxie
    15) Information technology: proficiency
    16) Ecology: procedure
    17) Drilling: practice
    18) Education: qualifications
    19) Polymers: art
    20) Programming: wisdom
    21) Quality control: (необходимый) know-how, tryout
    22) Robots: skills
    23) Science: measurement
    24) leg.N.P. torture
    25) Aviation medicine: event proficiency, testing

    Универсальный русско-английский словарь > опыт

  • 5 ciencia

    f.
    1 science.
    a ciencia cierta for certain
    no se conoce a ciencia cierta el número de víctimas the number of victims isn't known for certain
    ciencias naturales natural sciences
    ciencias ocultas occultism
    ciencias políticas political science
    ciencias sociales social sciences
    2 learning, knowledge.
    * * *
    1 (disciplina) science
    2 (saber) knowledge, learning
    \
    saber algo a ciencia cierta figurado to know something for certain
    ser un pozo de ciencia to be a well of knowledge
    ciencia ficción science fiction
    ciencia infusa intuition
    ciencias empresariales business studies
    ciencias exactas mathematics sing
    ciencias naturales natural sciences
    ciencias ocultas the occult sing
    * * *
    noun f.
    * * *
    SF
    1) (=conocimiento) science

    no tener mucha ciencia —

    ciencia infusa, lo sabe por ciencia infusa — iró he has God-given intelligence

    2) (=doctrina) science, sciences pl

    ciencias sociales — social science, social sciences pl

    3) pl ciencias (Educ) science sing, sciences
    * * *
    a) ( rama del saber) science; (saber, conocimiento) knowledge, learning

    a ciencia cierta — for sure, for certain

    b) ciencias femenino plural (Educ) science
    * * *
    = scholarship, science.
    Ex. The most important of the functions of librarians is the collection, preservation and affording access to the materials of scholarship.
    Ex. Thus we all agree that one component of a building is a roof (and not vice versa!), and that chemistry is a branch of science.
    ----
    * academia de las ciencias = academy of sciences.
    * a ciencia cierta = for sure, for certain.
    * alfabetización en ciencias de la salud = health literacy.
    * árbol de la ciencia, el = tree of knowledge, the.
    * biblioteca de ciencias = science library.
    * biblioteca de ciencias de la salud = health sciences library, health library.
    * Biblioteca Nacional de Préstamo para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (NLL) = National Lending Library for Science and Technology (NLL).
    * bibliotecario de ciencias de la salud = health librarian.
    * bibliotecario de las ciencias de la salud = health sciences librarian.
    * centro de las ciencias = science centre.
    * ciencia aplicada = applied science.
    * Ciencia Cristiana, la = Christian Science.
    * ciencia de la comunicación = communication science.
    * ciencia de las zonas polares = polar science.
    * ciencia del conocimiento = cognitive science.
    * ciencia del libro = bookmanship.
    * ciencia de los alimentos = food science.
    * ciencia del suelo = soil science.
    * ciencia experimental = hard sciences, the.
    * ciencia ficción = science fiction, sci-fi.
    * ciencia forense = forensic science.
    * ciencia médica = medical science.
    * ciencia militar = military science.
    * ciencia mundial = world science.
    * ciencias agrícolas = agricultural economics.
    * ciencias biológicas = biological sciences.
    * ciencias biomédicas = biomedical sciences.
    * ciencias de la atmósfera = atmospheric sciences.
    * ciencias de la computación = computer science, computational science.
    * ciencias de la computación y tecnología informática = computer science and technology.
    * ciencias de la construcción = building sciences.
    * ciencias de la documentación = information science, library science.
    * ciencias de la educación = educational science.
    * ciencias de la navegación = nautical science.
    * ciencias de la salud = health sciences.
    * ciencias de las plantas = plant science(s).
    * ciencias de la tierra = geosciences.
    * ciencias de la tierra, las = earth sciences, the.
    * ciencias de la vida = biosciences.
    * ciencias de la vida, las = life sciences, the.
    * ciencias del comportamiento = behavioural sciences.
    * ciencias del espacio, las = space science(s), the.
    * ciencias del mar = aquatic sciences.
    * ciencias del mar, las = ocean sciences, the.
    * ciencias de los materiales = materials sciences.
    * ciencias domésticas = domestic science.
    * ciencias duras, las = hard sciences, the.
    * ciencias exactas, las = exact sciences, the, hard sciences, the.
    * ciencias físicas = physical science.
    * ciencias forestales = forestry.
    * ciencias históricas = historical sciences.
    * ciencias humanas = human science.
    * ciencias naturales = natural sciences.
    * ciencias navales = ship science.
    * ciencias planetarias, las = planetary sciences, the.
    * ciencias políticas = political science.
    * ciencias puras = pure sciences.
    * ciencias sobre la vida en el espacio = space life sciences.
    * ciencias sociales = social sciences, soft sciences, the, social studies.
    * ciencia virtual = e-science.
    * ciencia y tecnología = sci-tech [scitech o sci/tech].
    * Ciencia y Tecnología (C + T) = S & T (Science and Technology).
    * ciencia y tecnología de los alimentos = food science and technology.
    * ciencia y tecnología de los materiales = materials science and technology.
    * científico de las ciencias de la tierra = geoscientist.
    * conocer a ciencia cierta = know for + certain, know for + sure, know for + a fact.
    * delegación de educación y ciencia = local education authority (LEA).
    * enseñanza de las ciencias = science education.
    * especialista en ciencias de la tierra = earth scientist.
    * estudiante de ciencias de la educación = education student, student teacher.
    * facultad de ciencias de la educación = teachers college, teacher training college.
    * filosofía de la ciencia = philosophy of science.
    * Fundación Nacional para las Ciencias (NSF) = National Science Foundation (NSF).
    * humanidades y ciencias sociales = arts and social sciences.
    * Indice de Citas de Ciencia (SCI) = Science Citation Index (SCI).
    * Indice de Citas de las Ciencias Sociales (SSCI) = Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).
    * investigación en ciencias de la documentación = information science research.
    * Licenciatura de Ciencias = M.Sc. (Master of Science).
    * Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia = Department of Education and Science.
    * mundo de la ciencia, el = world of science, the, scientific world, the.
    * museo de ciencias naturales = natural science museum.
    * museo de las ciencias = science museum.
    * no es una ciencia exacta = not (exactly) rocket science.
    * novela de ciencia ficción = science fiction novel.
    * relacionado con las ciencias = science-related.
    * revista de ciencia y tecnología = science and technology journal.
    * saber a ciencia cierta = know for + certain, know for + sure, know for + a fact.
    * saber a ciencia cierta que = know + for a fact that.
    * ser una ciencia exacta = be an exact science.
    * sistema de la ciencia, el = system of science, the.
    * tecnología de la información para ciencias de la salud = health informatics.
    * * *
    a) ( rama del saber) science; (saber, conocimiento) knowledge, learning

    a ciencia cierta — for sure, for certain

    b) ciencias femenino plural (Educ) science
    * * *
    = scholarship, science.

    Ex: The most important of the functions of librarians is the collection, preservation and affording access to the materials of scholarship.

    Ex: Thus we all agree that one component of a building is a roof (and not vice versa!), and that chemistry is a branch of science.
    * academia de las ciencias = academy of sciences.
    * a ciencia cierta = for sure, for certain.
    * alfabetización en ciencias de la salud = health literacy.
    * árbol de la ciencia, el = tree of knowledge, the.
    * biblioteca de ciencias = science library.
    * biblioteca de ciencias de la salud = health sciences library, health library.
    * Biblioteca Nacional de Préstamo para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (NLL) = National Lending Library for Science and Technology (NLL).
    * bibliotecario de ciencias de la salud = health librarian.
    * bibliotecario de las ciencias de la salud = health sciences librarian.
    * centro de las ciencias = science centre.
    * ciencia aplicada = applied science.
    * Ciencia Cristiana, la = Christian Science.
    * ciencia de la comunicación = communication science.
    * ciencia de las zonas polares = polar science.
    * ciencia del conocimiento = cognitive science.
    * ciencia del libro = bookmanship.
    * ciencia de los alimentos = food science.
    * ciencia del suelo = soil science.
    * ciencia experimental = hard sciences, the.
    * ciencia ficción = science fiction, sci-fi.
    * ciencia forense = forensic science.
    * ciencia médica = medical science.
    * ciencia militar = military science.
    * ciencia mundial = world science.
    * ciencias = science and technology.
    * ciencias agrícolas = agricultural economics.
    * ciencias biológicas = biological sciences.
    * ciencias biomédicas = biomedical sciences.
    * ciencias de la atmósfera = atmospheric sciences.
    * ciencias de la computación = computer science, computational science.
    * ciencias de la computación y tecnología informática = computer science and technology.
    * ciencias de la construcción = building sciences.
    * ciencias de la documentación = information science, library science.
    * ciencias de la educación = educational science.
    * ciencias de la navegación = nautical science.
    * ciencias de la salud = health sciences.
    * ciencias de las plantas = plant science(s).
    * ciencias de la tierra = geosciences.
    * ciencias de la tierra, las = earth sciences, the.
    * ciencias de la vida = biosciences.
    * ciencias de la vida, las = life sciences, the.
    * ciencias del comportamiento = behavioural sciences.
    * ciencias del espacio, las = space science(s), the.
    * ciencias del mar = aquatic sciences.
    * ciencias del mar, las = ocean sciences, the.
    * ciencias de los materiales = materials sciences.
    * ciencias domésticas = domestic science.
    * ciencias duras, las = hard sciences, the.
    * ciencias exactas, las = exact sciences, the, hard sciences, the.
    * ciencias físicas = physical science.
    * ciencias forestales = forestry.
    * ciencias históricas = historical sciences.
    * ciencias humanas = human science.
    * ciencias naturales = natural sciences.
    * ciencias navales = ship science.
    * ciencias planetarias, las = planetary sciences, the.
    * ciencias políticas = political science.
    * ciencias puras = pure sciences.
    * ciencias sobre la vida en el espacio = space life sciences.
    * ciencias sociales = social sciences, soft sciences, the, social studies.
    * ciencia virtual = e-science.
    * ciencia y tecnología = sci-tech [scitech o sci/tech].
    * Ciencia y Tecnología (C + T) = S & T (Science and Technology).
    * ciencia y tecnología de los alimentos = food science and technology.
    * ciencia y tecnología de los materiales = materials science and technology.
    * científico de las ciencias de la tierra = geoscientist.
    * conocer a ciencia cierta = know for + certain, know for + sure, know for + a fact.
    * delegación de educación y ciencia = local education authority (LEA).
    * enseñanza de las ciencias = science education.
    * especialista en ciencias de la tierra = earth scientist.
    * estudiante de ciencias de la educación = education student, student teacher.
    * facultad de ciencias de la educación = teachers college, teacher training college.
    * filosofía de la ciencia = philosophy of science.
    * Fundación Nacional para las Ciencias (NSF) = National Science Foundation (NSF).
    * humanidades y ciencias sociales = arts and social sciences.
    * Indice de Citas de Ciencia (SCI) = Science Citation Index (SCI).
    * Indice de Citas de las Ciencias Sociales (SSCI) = Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI).
    * investigación en ciencias de la documentación = information science research.
    * Licenciatura de Ciencias = M.Sc. (Master of Science).
    * Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia = Department of Education and Science.
    * mundo de la ciencia, el = world of science, the, scientific world, the.
    * museo de ciencias naturales = natural science museum.
    * museo de las ciencias = science museum.
    * no es una ciencia exacta = not (exactly) rocket science.
    * novela de ciencia ficción = science fiction novel.
    * relacionado con las ciencias = science-related.
    * revista de ciencia y tecnología = science and technology journal.
    * saber a ciencia cierta = know for + certain, know for + sure, know for + a fact.
    * saber a ciencia cierta que = know + for a fact that.
    * ser una ciencia exacta = be an exact science.
    * sistema de la ciencia, el = system of science, the.
    * tecnología de la información para ciencias de la salud = health informatics.

    * * *
    1 (rama del saber) science; (saber, conocimiento) knowledge, learning
    los adelantos de la ciencia scientific advances, the advances of science
    a ciencia cierta for sure, for certain
    no tiene ninguna ciencia there's nothing difficult o complicated about it
    2 ciencias fpl ( Educ) science
    Compuestos:
    soil science
    space science
    science fiction
    tiene la ciencia infusa ( iró); he has God-given intelligence ( iro)
    fpl Education
    fpl Media Studies
    fpl Business Studies
    fpl exact sciences
    fpl natural science(s)
    fpl occultism
    fpl Political Science, Politics
    * * *

     

    ciencia sustantivo femenino

    (saber, conocimiento) knowledge, learning;

    a ciencia cierta for sure, for certain
    b)

    ciencias sustantivo femenino plural (Educ) science;

    Cciencias Empresariales/de la Información Business/Media Studies;
    Cciencias Políticas/de la Educación Politics/Education
    ciencia sustantivo femenino
    1 science
    2 frml (conocimiento) knowledge: descorchar un botella no tiene mucha ciencia, there is no mystery about uncorking a bottle
    3 ciencia ficción, science fiction
    irón ciencia infusa, divine inspiration
    ciencias ocultas, the occult sing
    ♦ Locuciones: a ciencia cierta, for certain: lo sé a ciencia cierta, I'm absolutely sure o I know it for certain
    ' ciencia' also found in these entries:
    Spanish:
    divulgación
    - estadística
    - interés
    - jurisprudencia
    - mecánica
    - óptica
    - ortopedia
    - padre
    - ramo
    - reino
    - toponimia
    - acústica
    - adelanto
    - aeronáutica
    - avanzar
    - contabilidad
    - dedicar
    - economía
    - evolucionar
    - ramificarse
    - triunfo
    - veterinaria
    English:
    advancement
    - area
    - branch
    - certain
    - data processing
    - economics
    - electronic
    - forestry
    - medicine
    - sci-fi
    - science
    - science fiction
    - statistics
    - surgery
    - social
    - wishful thinking
    * * *
    nf
    1. [método, estudio] science;
    la ciencia ya no puede hacer nada para salvar al enfermo science is unable to do anything more to help the patient;
    la astronomía es la ciencia que estudia los cuerpos celestes astronomy is the science in which heavenly bodies are studied
    ciencias aplicadas applied sciences;
    ciencias biológicas life sciences;
    ciencia del conocimiento cognitive science;
    ciencias económicas economics [singular];
    ciencias empresariales business studies;
    ciencias exactas mathematics [singular];
    ciencia ficción science fiction;
    ciencias físicas physical sciences;
    ciencias naturales natural sciences;
    ciencias ocultas occultism;
    ciencias políticas political science;
    ciencias de la salud medical sciences;
    ciencias sociales social sciences;
    ciencias de la Tierra earth sciences
    2. [sabiduría] learning, knowledge;
    Fam
    tener poca ciencia to be straightforward;
    la cocina tiene poca ciencia, pero requiere mucho sentido común cooking doesn't require a lot of skill, but you do need to use common sense;
    Hum
    por ciencia infusa through divine inspiration
    3. Educ
    ciencias science;
    soy de ciencias I studied science
    ciencias mixtas = secondary school course comprising mainly science subjects but including some arts subjects;
    ciencias puras = secondary school course comprising science subjects only
    a ciencia cierta loc adv
    for certain;
    no se conoce a ciencia cierta el número de víctimas the number of victims isn't known for certain
    * * *
    f
    1 science;
    a ciencia cierta for certain, for sure;
    ser un pozo de ciencia fam be a fount of knowledge
    2
    :
    ciencias pl EDU science sg ;
    ciencias (naturales) natural sciences
    * * *
    1) : science
    2) : learning, knowledge
    3)
    a ciencia cierta : for a fact, for certain
    * * *
    ciencia n science

    Spanish-English dictionary > ciencia

  • 6 Smeaton, John

    [br]
    b. 8 June 1724 Austhorpe, near Leeds, Yorkshire, England
    d. 28 October 1792 Austhorpe, near Leeds, Yorkshire, England
    [br]
    English mechanical and civil engineer.
    [br]
    As a boy, Smeaton showed mechanical ability, making for himself a number of tools and models. This practical skill was backed by a sound education, probably at Leeds Grammar School. At the age of 16 he entered his father's office; he seemed set to follow his father's profession in the law. In 1742 he went to London to continue his legal studies, but he preferred instead, with his father's reluctant permission, to set up as a scientific instrument maker and dealer and opened a shop of his own in 1748. About this time he began attending meetings of the Royal Society and presented several papers on instruments and mechanical subjects, being elected a Fellow in 1753. His interests were turning towards engineering but were informed by scientific principles grounded in careful and accurate observation.
    In 1755 the second Eddystone lighthouse, on a reef some 14 miles (23 km) off the English coast at Plymouth, was destroyed by fire. The President of the Royal Society was consulted as to a suitable engineer to undertake the task of constructing a new one, and he unhesitatingly suggested Smeaton. Work began in 1756 and was completed in three years to produce the first great wave-swept stone lighthouse. It was constructed of Portland stone blocks, shaped and pegged both together and to the base rock, and bonded by hydraulic cement, scientifically developed by Smeaton. It withstood the storms of the English Channel for over a century, but by 1876 erosion of the rock had weakened the structure and a replacement had to be built. The upper portion of Smeaton's lighthouse was re-erected on a suitable base on Plymouth Hoe, leaving the original base portion on the reef as a memorial to the engineer.
    The Eddystone lighthouse made Smeaton's reputation and from then on he was constantly in demand as a consultant in all kinds of engineering projects. He carried out a number himself, notably the 38 mile (61 km) long Forth and Clyde canal with thirty-nine locks, begun in 1768 but for financial reasons not completed until 1790. In 1774 he took charge of the Ramsgate Harbour works.
    On the mechanical side, Smeaton undertook a systematic study of water-and windmills, to determine the design and construction to achieve the greatest power output. This work issued forth as the paper "An experimental enquiry concerning the natural powers of water and wind to turn mills" and exerted a considerable influence on mill design during the early part of the Industrial Revolution. Between 1753 and 1790 Smeaton constructed no fewer than forty-four mills.
    Meanwhile, in 1756 he had returned to Austhorpe, which continued to be his home base for the rest of his life. In 1767, as a result of the disappointing performance of an engine he had been involved with at New River Head, Islington, London, Smeaton began his important study of the steam-engine. Smeaton was the first to apply scientific principles to the steam-engine and achieved the most notable improvements in its efficiency since its invention by Newcomen, until its radical overhaul by James Watt. To compare the performance of engines quantitatively, he introduced the concept of "duty", i.e. the weight of water that could be raised 1 ft (30 cm) while burning one bushel (84 lb or 38 kg) of coal. The first engine to embody his improvements was erected at Long Benton colliery in Northumberland in 1772, with a duty of 9.45 million pounds, compared to the best figure obtained previously of 7.44 million pounds. One source of heat loss he attributed to inaccurate boring of the cylinder, which he was able to improve through his close association with Carron Ironworks near Falkirk, Scotland.
    [br]
    Principal Honours and Distinctions
    FRS 1753.
    Bibliography
    1759, "An experimental enquiry concerning the natural powers of water and wind to turn mills", Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society.
    Towards the end of his life, Smeaton intended to write accounts of his many works but only completed A Narrative of the Eddystone Lighthouse, 1791, London.
    Further Reading
    S.Smiles, 1874, Lives of the Engineers: Smeaton and Rennie, London. A.W.Skempton, (ed.), 1981, John Smeaton FRS, London: Thomas Telford. L.T.C.Rolt and J.S.Allen, 1977, The Steam Engine of Thomas Newcomen, 2nd edn, Hartington: Moorland Publishing, esp. pp. 108–18 (gives a good description of his work on the steam-engine).
    LRD

    Biographical history of technology > Smeaton, John

  • 7 Mercer, John

    SUBJECT AREA: Textiles
    [br]
    b. 21 February 1791 Great Harwood, Lancashire, England
    d. 30 November 1866 Oakenshaw, Lancashire, England
    [br]
    English pioneer in textile chemistry.
    [br]
    Mercer began work at the age of 9 as a bobbinwinder and then a hand-loom weaver. He had no formal education in chemistry but taught himself and revealed remarkable ability in both theoretical and applied aspects of the subject. He became the acknowledged "father of textile chemistry" and the Royal Society elected him Fellow in 1850. His name is remembered in connection with the lustrous "mercerized" cotton which, although not developed commercially until 1890, arose from his discovery, c. 1844, of the effect of caustic soda on cotton linters. He also discovered that cotton could be dissolved in a solution of copper oxide in ammonia, a phenomenon later exploited in the manufacture of artificial silk. As a youth, Mercer experimented at home with dyeing processes and soon acquired sufficient skill to set up as an independent dyer. Most of his working life was, however, spent with the calico-printing firm of Oakenshaw Print Works in which he eventually became a partner, and it was there that most of his experimental work was done. The association was a very appropriate one, for it was a member of this firm's staff who first recognized Mercer's potential talent and took the trouble in his spare time to teach him reading, writing and arithmetic. Mercer developed manganese-bronze colours and researched into catalysis and the ferrocyanides. Among his innovations was the chlorination of wool in order to make it print as easily as cotton. It was many years later that it was realized that this treatment also conferred valuable shrink-resisting qualities. Becoming interested in photochemistry, he devised processes for photographic printing on fabric. Queen Victoria was presented with a handkerchief printed in this way when she visited the Great Exhibition of 1851, of which Mercer was a juror. A photograph of Mercer himself on cloth is preserved in the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. He presented papers to the British Association and was a member of the Chemical Society.
    [br]
    Principal Honours and Distinctions
    FRS 1850.
    Further Reading
    Obituary, Manchester Memoirs, Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society.
    Dictionary of National Biography.
    E.A.Parnell, 1886. The Life and Labours of John Mercer, F.R.S., London (biography). 1867, biography, Journal of the Chemical Society.
    A.E.Musson and E.Robinson, 1969, Science and Technology in the Industrial Revolution, Manchester (includes a brief reference to Mercer's work).
    RLH

    Biographical history of technology > Mercer, John

  • 8 Tainter, Charles Sumner

    SUBJECT AREA: Recording
    [br]
    b. 1854
    d. 1940
    [br]
    American scientific instrument maker, co-developer of practical cylinder recording.
    [br]
    He manufactured "philosophical devices" in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and was approached by Alexander Graham Bell in connection with the construction of toys using sound recordings. A more formal co-operation was agreed, and after Bell's receipt of the French Volta prize in 1880 he financed the Volta Laboratory Association in Washington, DC. He founded this in 1881 together with a cousin and Tainter to develop a practical sound-recording and -reproducing system. Another area that was developed was the transmission of sound by means of modulated light and reception via a selenium cell.
    The advances in sound recording and reproduction were very positive, and T.A. Edison was approached in mid-1885 in order to establish co-operation in the further development of a cylinder instrument. In early 1886 the Volta Graphophone Company was incorporated in Virginia, and an experimental laboratory was established in Washington, DC. The investors were connected with the secretarial services at the House of Representatives and needed the development for increasing efficiency in debate reporting. In mid-1887 Edison, against the advice of his collaborators, declined co-operation and went ahead on his own. There is no doubt that Tainter's skill in developing functional equipment and the speed with which he was able to work in the crucial years provoked other developments in the field, in particular the perfection of the Edison phonograph and the development of the disc record by Berliner.
    [br]
    Bibliography
    Tainter's patents were numerous; those on sound recording were the most important, because they incorporated so many fundamental ideas, and included US patent no. 341, 214 (with C.A.Bell), and US patent no. 375, 579 (a complete dictation outfit).
    Further Reading
    V.K.Chew, 1981, Talking Machines, London: Science Museum and HMSO, pp. 9–12 (provides a good overview, not only of Tainter's contribution, but also of early sound recording and reproduction).
    GB-N

    Biographical history of technology > Tainter, Charles Sumner

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